Abstract Transgenic tomato (cv. Money maker) over expressing Bt (Cry 2Ab) gene was produced
using Agrobacterium-mediated transformation method. Molecular and biochemical analysis
confirmed the expression and integration of the transgene into tomato genome. Obvious effects
of Cry 2Ab were judged by the mortality of the American bollworm Helicoverpa armigera (Hu¨bner)
and the potato tuber moth Phthorimaea operculella (Zeller) when fed on Bt tomato. These results
indicate that a significant amount of Bt protein was present in all of the transgenic lines and that
plants expressing Cry 2Ab gene could be used for management of the target lepidopteran insect
pests endemic in Egypt.